Viscera and head inspection apparatus



Dec. Z7, 1949 Filed Oct. 23, 1948 A. O. LUNDELL.

VISCERA AND HEAD INSPECTION APPARATUS 3 She ets-Sheet l C :IDW

Dec. 27, 1949 A. o. LUNDI-:LL 2,492,387

I VISCERA AND HEAD yINSPECTION APPARATUS Filed 00t- 25, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 27, 1949 A. o. LUNDELL' 'vIscEnA AND HEAD INSPECTION APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 23, 1948 ,l/672 07 A7/0572 @Zande/ Patented Dec. 27, 1949 -VISCERA AND HEAD INSPECTION PPARATUS v'AivinO. IlundelLChicago, Ill., assignorltoThe AllbrightNellGompany, Chicago, fIll.,a. :corporration-'of Illinois Application'Octobe'r 23, 1948, Serial No. 56,236

"T1-he presentE invention frelatesto; apparatus: for -f use 1in' connection width" inspectionlof the viscera lardhea'ds or certainS animalicarcasses.

Tn' commercialslaughtering-andpackng houses Fit islstaridard' practice to'finspect the viscera and Ahheads 'of hogand calf-carcasses Thefinspection '-is carriedf'out byquallieidinspectors under govf ernment superyisenfandf is f or the purpose of deterniinin'g whether any-carcass isdiseased or coni' tamnate'dancF hence"not'useable'ioi1 human 'confsum'ption. :According'to currentv practice i trolley "equipped zgarbrelslare `applie'ct-to thehind 'feet' f the carcasses-directly afterthefslaughtering and other preliminary conditioning-operations. `AAfter application o'f the garnbrelsL the trolleys are sucfcessiv'ely mounted'on `-an overhead rail which has f associatedwithit power Idriven mechanism for lmoving' the llgarbrel 'suspended carcasses along "the rail'for treatmetiatclilerentstations or locations. At one estation along the overhead rail `is an inspectionitjble ithetype 'that comprises Aa moving'topinftheform'of La"horizontal series of pans. `The pans-*are movdfinfsynchronism -with the `carcasses and arelarran'gedso that there Yis one panladjacentleachcarcass. 'Before'the carcasses reach theftahle'thebellies 'are vslit open land the headsarepatia'llyl or completely severed cadjacent thec'ervic'l' or neck regions. When each carcass reaches the' table* the' viscera Ais removed and'placed-onithe' oppositepan fithe table'for vpurposes of inspection. "The'fcervical lymphatic glands in the 'headsff thefcarcasses are inspected to determine whether'tberculosisor'other 'disease lis present. Inconnectionwith inspection'of 'the 4headstheinspectors-Joyway of'suitalole knives cut into the lymphaticglards. lHeretofore inspection 'of the heads hasfbeen accomplished by several different methods. 'Onemethod 'involves inspect- 'ing they heads after'they' arel partially severed and 'before the carcasses'reachthe movingtop viscere, vinspection tzalhlewl'iere the viscera Yis remove'dand 'placed on'the pansorlinspection' purposes. The secondmethod-invlves inspecting the" heads after fected kviscera on thelsamerpans nlor,..ifnotin rfected,are likely to :becomelinfected bydfeeted viscera onthe pans.

The primary or principal object of this-.inven- :tionV :is-to` `provide a' viscera. and lhead inspection "20 apparatus which ,is an ^xirnprovenelentupon pre- ..viously ldes-:ignedeapparatus;and fwhenfvinvuse. fin- VolVes a method of inspecting the viscera fand vheads ofv-h'ogandcalfacarcasses Wh'ichf-elimirrates ,theobjections toandfdisadvantages nf,l thereto- 25-fore employed -.inspection :methods ,Inegeneral the: improved` apparatus. isf/of` thefso-calfledfmov- .ing top variety or-wtypeland comprises ran felongated frame structure withfparsfof"vertically u l :extending-sprocketewhe'elseatrits ends randime'chfanismfordrivin-g r'.one'pair of. sprocketfwhels'fa mail' .fof paraHeLf'spaced Tapart fhains `sextendirrg ':a'round the"sproketwheelsiandhayirrg upperfa'nd vlower horizontalfreachesgaf se'res'i'ofequidistantiy spaced large size'd' pansfwhichfextend between,

adapted when"travellingflin 'thef-upper reaches-cf 'the chains individually"toretaini'the viscerafrom the carcasses on rthe adjacent portions "of the `40 overhead rail; ardaseries-ofequidistantly' spaced,

'they are completely'severedfromthe vneck 'por- Y"tions of thecarcasses and yifliile''theyI are vmounted on hooks which are-disposed'-between"and move 'along with the carcasses. 'Thethid 'method involves inspectinglfthe heads'after they are completely severedfrom the neck `portions 'of 'the carcasses and whilertheyere positioned on the .pansof the inspection table withtheir respective viscerla. VAAll of .these methodshave proved in puracticev to be objectionable. l'IheL'rstl mentioned small sizedpans .which exten'd b'etween, and are connected Ato,` the etwo chains.Late-positioned or .disposed betweenftherlargeszed Vyisceraretaining pans, `and :arefadapted `-tofsupport for vinspection .purposes the heads whichebelongwto athe fviscera .opa-the adjoiningelargef'sized pans. :Byem-ployng lseparateisinallsized'head: retainingpans in addition-to the large sizedviscerafa'etainingfpansthe 5@ heads may be readlyiinspectedindependentlymf the viscera `air-ideare 4segregate'tlifromltheirrespective viscera to the eridtthat they -can v not lcontaminate their "`respective yiscera Vor *be I'con-- tamnated by'lthe latter. -v"Amither"amlvantage 'o'f ,methodds siibiectitatherobjection .that theheads 55 lthe apparatus' isthat'a'sirrgle inspector needpnly be employed even though the rate of slaughter is 150 per hour or more.

Another object of the invention is to provide a viscera and head inspection apparatus of the type and character set forth in which the small sized pans which are arranged in alternate relation with the large sized viscera retaining pans are provided with means for holding the heads in the most accessible and advantageous position for inspection of the cervical lymphatic glands.

A further object of the invention is to provide a viscera and head inspection apparatus of the last mentioned character in which the head holding means on the small sized pans are so constructed and arranged that the nose and upper skull portions face downwards and rest directly on the small sized pans.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a viscera and head inspection apparatus which is generally of new and improved construction, effectively and efficiently fullls its intended purpose and facilitates and expedites in spection of the viscera and heads.

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the present viscera and head inspection apparatus will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings which accompany and forrn a part of this specification or disclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a viscera and head inspection apparatus embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view illustrating in detail the arrangement of the large sized viscera retaining pans and the small sized head retaining pans;

Figure 3 is an enlarged plan view of one of the large sized viscera retaining pans and the following small sized pan for retaining the head that belongs with the viscera on the large sized pan;

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the two pans that are illustrated in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4 and showing the manner in which the small sized head retaining pans are connected to the parallel spaced apart roller chains, certain parts being shown in elevation for purposes of clarity; and

Figure 6 is a perspective of one of the small sized head retaining pans, illustrating the construction and mode of operation of the head holding means.

The apparatus which is illustrated in the drawings constitutes the preferred form or embodiment of the invention and is for use in a commercial slaughtering or packing house. Its purpose is to retain the viscera and heads of either hog or calf carcasses in connection with governmental inspection thereof. As its principal components or parts the apparatus comprises a hori zontally elongated frame structure 1, an endless conveyor 8, an endless series of equidistantly spaced large sized pans 9 on the conveyor, and a series of equidistantly spaced small sized pans Il between the large sized pans 9. It is contemplated that the apparatus will be placed adjacent to, and in parallel relation with, a portion of an overheadrail along which carcasses to be inspected and processed are continuously moved by way of f relation.

power driven mechanism which is associated with the rail. It is also contemplated that the bellies of the carcasses will be slit longitudinally before the carcasses reach the appartus. As well understood in the art, after the animals are slaughtered and treated in a preliminary manner trolley equipped gambrels are applied to the hind feet of the carcasses. After application of the garnbrels the trolleys are mounted on the aforementioned overhead rail and are propelled by the power driven mechanism continuously along the rail. As viewed in Figures l and 2 the left hand end of the apparatus is the receiving end and the right hand end is the discharge end. The carcasses, the viscera and heads of which are to be inspected, move from left to right lengthwise of the table.

The frame structure 1 of the apparatus is fabricated from heavy stiff tubing and comprises a pair of similarly formed parallel, laterally spaced, frame-like sides. Each of the sides consists of a longitudinal series of uprights II, a longitudinally extending member I2 at the upper ends of the uprights and longitudinally extending members I3 between the central portions of the uprights. The lower ends of the uprights I I are provided with floor-engaging feet I4. The longitudinally extending members I2 of the two sides of the frame structure are welded to the upper ends of the uprights and the ends of the longitudinally extending member I3 are welded to the central portions of the uprights. Below the left hand ends of the longitudinally extending member I2 are upper and lower longitudinally extending bars I5 and these are spaced vertically apart and have the ends thereof welded to the upper portions of the adjacent uprights II. Beneath the right hand ends of the longitudinally extending member I2 are upper and lower longitudinally extending bars I6 and these, like the bars I5, are spaced vertically apart and have the ends thereof welded to the upper portions of the adjacent uprights. The two side frames of the horizontally elongated supporting structure 'I are cross connected by horizontally and transversely extending members Il. The latter have the ends thereof Welded to certain of the uprights I I and serve to hold the side frames of the supporting structure in fixed, spaced apart The supporting structure 1, due to its construction, is rigid.

The endless conveyor 8 consists of a pair of parallel, spaced apart endless roller chains I8 and these are located between, and extend lengthwise of, the upper portions of the side frames of the supporting structure and embody straight, longitudinally extending horizontal upper reaches and straight, longitudinally extending horizontal lower reaches. Each of the chains is of standard or conventional design and consists of pairs of laterally spaced links I, pivot pins 2li between the ends of the links and rollers ZI on the central portions of the pivot pins. The left hand ends of the chains extend part way around, and are supported by, two spaced apart sprocket wheels 22 which are iixedly mounted on a horizontally extending shaft 23 at the receiving end of the supporting structure. The ends of the shaft 23 are journalled in bearing blocks 2l! and these extend between, and are fixedly secured to, the central portions of the upper and lower bars I5. An electric motor 25 and a speed reducing gear variety unit 26 serve to drive the chains IB so that they move continuously in a clockwise direction as viewed in cervical lymphatic glands face upwards and yforwards and are readily accessible for inspection. As shown in the drawings the small sized head retaining pans I are approximately one-half as Wide as the viscera retaining pans 9. The inspector, in connection with inspection of the viscera and heads which are disposed respectively on the large and small sized pans, may stand on either side of the table. For example, he may stand as shown in Figure 6 of the drawings. Preferably, however, the inspector stands on the opposite side of the table in order that when he cuts the cervical lymphatic glands the force resulting from the cutting operation does not dislodge the head being inspected from its holder 31.

In addition to the parts heretofore described the apparatus comprises a unit for washing, sterilizing and cooling the pans 9 rand IU during travel thereof in theV lower reach of the endless conveyor 8. As shown in Figure 1 this unit is located beneath the receiving end of the supporting structure 1 and consists of a housing 44 which surrounds the adjacent portion of the lower reach of the conveyor. Within the housing are four horizontally and transversely extending spray pipes 45, 46, 41 and 48. The spray pipe 45 is located beneath the lower reach of the conveyor. It is connected to a suitable source of cold water under pressure and serves to jet streams of cold water upwards onto the pans in order to wash blood and other matter therefrom. The spray pipes 4S and 41 follow :and are horizontally aligned with the cold water spray pipe 45 and are connected to a suitable source of hot water under pressure. They serve to jet streams of hot water upwards onto the trays on the lower reach of the conveyor in order to sterilize the pans. The pipe 48 is positioned directly over the lower reach of the conveyor and follows the pipe 41. It is connected to a suitable source of cold water under pressure andr serves to jet cold water downwards onto the pans 9 and I0 in order to cool them after they aresterilized by the streams of hot water emanating from the hot water supply spray pipes 46 and 41.

In connection with operation of the apparatus the pans 9 and I0 when in the upper reach of the conveyor travel in synchronism with the carcasses on the portion of the overhead rail adjacent which the apparatus is disposed. As soon as a carcass reaches the receiving end of the supporting structure the viscera is removed and placed on the large sized pan 9 that is in opposed rela-I, Immediately thereafter the head` tion with it. of the carcass is severed at the cervical or neck region and is mounted on the next following small sized pan I0. In connection with mounting of the head on such pan it is inverted and slid rearwards into connected relation with the holder on the small sized pan. As the viscera and the respective heads therefor move along the upper reach the endless conveyor from the receiving end of the supporting structure to the discharge end they are inspected for disease or contamination.

The herein described viscera and head inspection apparatus effectively and eiiciently fulfills its intended purpose and is characterized by the fact that the heads, when mounted on the small sized pans l0 are segregated from their respective viscera and are so positioned or maintained in place so that the cervical lymphatic glands are readily accessible for inspection. It facilitates and expedites inspection of the viscera and heads. In addition, it involves less labor so far as inspection of the viscera and heads is concerned and permits knife work on the viscera and heads to be carried out under extremely saie conditions.

The invention is not to .be understood as restricted to the details set forth since these may be modiiied within the scope'of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus adapted for use in connection with inspection of the viscera and heads of animal carcasses and comprising an elongated supporting structure, an endless conveyor mounted on the supporting structure so that it has a longitudinally extending horizontal upper reach, and provided with power means for driving it in one direction, a series of equidistantly spaced large sized one-piece pans provided with continuous upstanding rims, connected to, and extending around, the conveyor and adapted when travelling on the upper reach of the conveyor individually to retain the viscera from the carcasses, and a series of equidistantly spaced small sized one-piece pans provided with continuous upstanding rims, connected to thA conveyor so that they are positioned between the large sized pans, adapted when travelling on said upper reach of said conveyor individually to retain the heads belonging to the viscera on the adjacent large sized pans, said small sized pans having operatively associated therewith means for releasably holding the heads so that their nose and upper skull portions face downward and rest directly on said central portions of the small sized pans.

2. An apparatus adapted for use in connection with inspection of the viscera and heads of animal carcasses and comprising :an elongated supporting structure, an endless conveyor mounted on the supporting structure so that it has a longitudinally extending horizontal upper reach, and provided with power means for driving it in one direction, a series of spaced apart, ilat, one-piece pans connected to, fand extending around, the conveyor and adapted when travelling on the upper reach individually to retain the viscera from the carcasses, and a series of spaced apart, at, one-piece pans connected to the conveyor so that they Iare positioned between the first mentioned pans adapted when travelling on said upper reach individually to retain the heads belonging to the viscera on the adjacent rst mentioned pans, said small sized pans having operatively associated therewith holders for releasably retaining the heads so that the nose and upper skull portions face downward and rest directly on the central portions 'of the second mentioned pans.

3. An apparatus adapted for use in connection with inspection of the viscera fand heads of animal carcasses and comprising an elongated supporting structure, an endless conveyor mounted on the supporting structure so that it has a longitudinally extending horizontal upper reach, and provided with power means for driving it in one direction, a series of equidistantly spaced large sized pans, connected to, and extending around, the conveyor and adapted when travelling on the upper reach of the conveyor individually to retain the viscera from the carcasses, and a series of equidistantly spaced small sized pans connected to the conveyor so that they are positioned between the large sized pans, adapted when travelling on said upper reach of the conveyor individually to retain the heads belonging to the viscera on the adjacent large sized pan, and embodying over the lcentral portions of the small sized pans elevated V-shaped holders for releasably holding the heads so that the nose and upper skull portions face downwards.

4. An apparatus adapted for use in connection with inspection of the viscera and heads of animal carcasses and comprising an elongated supporting structure,ran endless conveyor mounted on the supporting structure so that it has a longitudinally extending horizontal upper reach, yand provided with power means for driving it in one direction, a series of spaced apart pans connected to, and extending around, the conveyor and adapted when travelling on said reach individually to retain the viscera from the carcasses, and a series of spaced apart pans connected to the conveyor so that they are positioned between the first mentioned pans, adapted when travelling on said upper reach individually to retain the heads belonging to the viscera on the #adjacent rst mentioned pans, and provided adjacent the central portions thereof with V-shaped holders for releasably holding the heads so that the nose and upper skull portions face downwards.

5. An apparatus adapted for use in connection with inpection of the viscera and heads of animal carcasses, and comprising an elongated supporting structure, a horizontal series of large sized pans movably mounted on the supporting structure and adapted individually to retain the viscera from the carcasses, and a corresponding series of small sized pans movably mounted on the supporting structure, positioned in associated relation with the large sized pans, respectively, adapted individually to retain the heads belonging to the viscera on the adjacent large sized pans, and provided adjacent the central portions thereof with V-shaped holders for releasably holding the heads so that the nose and upper skull portions face downwards.

ALVIN O. LUNDELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 16,079 Lundell May 19, 1925 1,537,846 McKenzie May 12, 1925 

